WVE: What is the greatest challenge you see facing
your industry right now?
BR: Getting West Virginia competitive with the other coal-
producing states by equalizing the taxes, laws and regulations
with those states and the federal laws and regulations. We have
the best coal and the best coal miners and managers in the world,
and we can compete. The state’s archaic and out-of-step laws
and regulations need to be changed so as to not tie our hands.
WVE: How do you think the new state and national
leadership will affect your industry?
BR: We are already seeing the positive effects of President
Donald Trump and his respect for the coal industry and our
great coal miners. Having a president who speaks positively
about our industry makes all the difference when compared to
one who did nothing but speak negatively about the industry,
which stifled investment and research. One man in the White
House can make a huge difference because everything Obama
did was by executive orders, administrative regulations and/or
agency behavior, always without congressional authorization,
consensus or agreement. Witness the signing of the Congressional
Review Act that Congress quickly passed and Trump signed
that nullified awful regulations put out in the last days of the
Obama administration.
Governor Jim Justice’s knowledge and experience with the
coal industry will also be a positive note here in West Virginia.
“I don’t have to
manage them.”
WVE: As a result of the 2016 elections, are
you seeing an increase in optimism or continued
uncertainty among your association members?
BR: It has been much more positive since the election as it
relates to the attitude toward coal from the highest levels of the
federal government. This positive attitude is beneficial to the
sustainment of operations as well as expanding and/or reopen-
ing ones that had been shuttered over the past eight years. Our
fingers are crossed that it has some longevity—for the benefit of
our people and the state of West Virginia.
WVE: Tell us about the major topics that were
addressed in the 2017 legislative session that will
directly affect your industry.
BR: SB 687 was the major piece of legislation affecting the
coal industry in the 2017 legislative session. That bill was pri-
marily directed at bringing state environmental laws into confor-
mance with federal laws, regulations and/or practices. It covered
the Special Reclamation Fund, blasting procedures, plugging
abandoned gas wells and narrative water quality standards on
the environmental regulation side. The safety component in-
cluded a consolidation of several boards and commissions that
had similar responsibilities and a mandate to update regulations
pertaining to diesel equipment used in underground mining.
When fully implemented, these issues will enhance our ability to
compete with other states on a more level field of regulation.
That’s the
complete confidence
you get from LDG.
Larson Design Group’s experts have national
experience and West Virginia roots. Trust your
project to them so you can focus on more
important things—like your weekend in the
woods.
Architects. Engineers. Surveyors.
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE